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[title]Chicago has enjoyed a sort of ad hoc Stephen Sondheim festival in the early months of 2014, with productions of Gypsy, Into the Woods, Passion and Road Show around town. Porchlight Music Theatre plans to continue the trend, producing a full season of Sondheim musicals in 2014–15.
Porchlight's 20th season will open with Sweeney Todd (October 3–November 9), featuring David Girolmo in the title role and Rebecca Finnegan as Mrs. Lovett, the latter reprising her Jeff Award–winning performance in Porchlight's previous production in 2004. Artistic director Michael Weber directs, with music direction by Doug Peck.
Nick Bowling will helm the first Chicago production of the career-retrospective revue Sondheim on Sondheim (February 6–March 15), which bowed on Broadway in 2010; Austin Cook provides music direction. In the spring, Weber will stage a revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (April 17–May 24, 2015).
Porchlight also revealed the slate for its "Porchlight Revisits…" series of one-night-only concert readings: Bells Are Ringing (October 29), City of Angels (March 4) and Mack and Mabel (May 13, 2015). Additionally, the company plans a concert of Sondheim's songs from the 1966 made-for-television musical Evening Primrose, date to be determined. All productions will take place at Stage 773.